What should I do?

[ss1]

Last Friday, I picked up a used Colt 1911 Series 70 in nickel. The gun was in sad shape, as it had a tremendous amount of deep metal stains, some rust spots, etc. I took it home, cleaned it up with some mild scotch brite and gun oil and was left with a reasonably good looking gun. It will need to be replated, as some areas that had a lot of tarnish and stains were close to the copper plate where the nickel just about wore off. Afterwards, I did a little research and the gun was made in 1979, which was the year that Colt "supposedly" had a shortage of nickel slide stops, grip safeties, and barrel bushings, so they decided to give it that two tone accent that you see below. Well, I have a dilemma now. Before I re-plate, I have the opportunity to "improve" the gun in some areas that Colt even saw fit in their 80's series:


mill dovetails for Novak/tritium sights
lower and bevel the ejection port
install a beaver tail grip safety and commander hammer
checker the front strap


A big part of me says, I should keep the gun as stock as possible for nostagia reasons and not do any of the above. What would you do?

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg294/ss1G8RFAN/firearms/Colt70.jpg

I have a modified Colt Commander, so I really don't need to do all this but it is in my nature to tinker.

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg294/ss1G8RFAN/firearms/Commanderb.jpg

[Cris]

I would do some more research and see if its worth keeping stock, as far as the market value goes on it. If its not worth keeping stock do what you feel needs to be done to more comfortable for you. That is also a big improvement from what that looked like in the shop.

[Dave]

I'd tweak the hell out of it...I'm more about performance than anything.

[Cris]

I'd tweak the hell out of it...I'm more about performance than anything.


You obviously don't know Phil....yet.

[Dave]

You obviously don't know Phil....yet.

Nope! :D

[Cris]

Just listening to the guy speak of what he has and has done to his collection makes you drool.

[ss1]

Just listening to the guy speak of what he has and has done to his collection makes you drool.
LOL, it's all Rich's fault. It's like going to the grocery store when you are hungry. I can't recall what made me get into the NFA stuff tho.

[Chris]

2 words for ya















RACE GUN

[ss1]

2 words for ya















RACE GUN
Another 2:


DAMN YOU :p

[spikes40]

buy a wilson and keep the series 70 in original setup

[ss1]

Holy crap. It's a dead heat in the poll. I'll take it to the range this weekend to see how she runs.

[LazyMe21]

I have to agree, I shot the wilson and it was amazing. Really smooth gun

[Dave]

Just because the Wilsons are fuckin badass doesn't mean you should leave this one stock.

[Adam]

Eh, it's not like it's a Delta Elite or a super rare edition. I'd do a nice carry treatment on it (smooth the action, checker/stipple front strap, add night sights, etc) and call it a day.

Save the STI's and Wilson's for race guns.